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Overview

  • 8 references 5 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English
  • 36, Male
  • Member since 2011
  • somewhat of a community organizer
  • political science and education, York University. Current...
  • From Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

I'd love to be able to do a Zack Morris "freeze time" and catch up on all the work-ish things I'm behind on, to reflect on identity and hip hop, play around with this digital DJing program, and take things easy. And then unfreeze time. But maybe if freezing time tooo long it'd be strange to essentially "age" while no one else has(?)

ABOUT ME

A co-op enthusiastic who likes to think of themself as thoughtful, kind, and unusual. I try to constantly learn, share, and grow; which includes taking things easy. My username by the way is a joke! It was intended to look like STEPHEN.HⒶRPER — a ridiculous play on the Canadian Prime Minister's name. Needless to say, I am not a fan.

I've travelled quite extensively while growing up, but mostly family trips in the more superficial/touristy way. Living in Stockholm on an exchange made me appreciate really getting to know a city; doing more so regular, every day things. I know in Toronto the only times I've visited the CN Tower were basically when I didn't live here!

PHILOSOPHY

Basically, on the individual level, I strive to conduct myself in a non-authoritarian and non-oppressive way. If we truly want to be compassionate people, I think we have an ethical duty to question and challenge domination in all its forms; as well as to work towards creating and/or supporting structures that embody a more just and compassionate world. Libertarian socialism (or anarchsim; or the return of the lost city of Alvograth; or whatever you want to call it) is something to strive towards on the large scale, but also to prefigure in our daily lives.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

At two different student co-op houses in Ann Arbor, Michigan; at friend of friends' places in Vienna; and recently in Brooklyn and Chicago!

However, I am more used to hosting than being hosted! I live in a co-op/collective house with seven others that is social justice and vegan oriented. And we regularly have couchsurfers from around the world stay with us.

As a regular couch surfing host, I think I am even more attuned to what it means to be a considerate and tidy guest!

Interests

social justice-y things; prefigurative politics; food; hockey; mindfulness (without it being apolitical/regressive); photography; an eclectic mix of music.

in another universe, I'm either a filmmaker, a DJ/Producer, or I write/draw little comics. That is to say, I regret not having developed skills in these. One day...

  • photography
  • dining
  • cooking
  • vegan
  • drinking
  • politics
  • comics
  • drawing
  • music
  • surfing
  • hockey

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies
- Me and You and Everyone We Know
- The Trotsky
- Mao's Last Dancer
- L'auberge Espagnole
- Persepolis
- Clerks II
- American Beauty
- Spiderman 2
- Knocked Up

I used to think that if someone likes the same music as me, we must be MFEO. I like an eclectic mix of music including:
- turntablism
- a lot of electronic (influenced) music incl Futurecop!
- conscious hip hop
- 80s music
- Stars
- The Raveonettes
- Delorean
- How To Dress Well (and 90s-ish R & B)
- Joshua Radin
- ...

Books
- While I really like fantasy, I mostly read news articles, blog posts, zines, and school stuff. From a gross, objective perspective, I prioritize reading non-fiction (which I think I'm okay with). There is so much fictitious lies we've been told. I want to unlearn and challenge these.

Teach, Learn, Share

Could possibly ~teach things related to:
- hockey
- soft skill things. Over food or drinks we could chat about topics related to non-violent communication (and criticisms of it), mindfulness, equity/anti-oppression, co-operatives, collectives, facilitation, and/or social movements
- vegan cooking

Could be down to learn more about
- making a mixed "DJ" set on a laptop
- drawing
- vegan cooking
- (surprises)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, China, Denmark, Germany, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Sweden

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